The Secret Between Them. Cathryn Parry

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      Not exactly. She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that her heart was pounding and her throat felt dry. She fumbled for the bottle of water on the table.

      “All I’m saying, Jess, is that we can use the money from the sale of the rink to go through with it. We could afford to buy a home in Wallis Point, a real nice place together. We could afford to have kids.”

      Her head was reeling. This was exactly what she wanted, too.

      “Well, Jess? Jessica,” he corrected himself. “What do you think?”

      Just then there was a knock and the door opened. Natalie again. She sat down and smiled at Jessica. “I’ve spoken with Kyle. He’d like to go ahead, if you would.”

      “I...” Jessica was acutely aware of Sebastien, staring at her. He’d offered to give her all her dreams.

      “Why don’t you let me know what your reservations are,” Natalie said to Jessica. “I’ll talk to Kyle and see if we can smooth anything out.”

      “She’s worried about losing income,” Sebastien said to Natalie. “If she works thirty hours a week at the rink, then she won’t be able to work at her real job much more than a few hours a week.”

      “Is that correct?” Natalie asked Jessica, politely. “Is the loss of income your only reservation?”

      Jessica gazed over at Sebastien. She really, really wanted to marry him and have a family of her own. Children she could love and give a happy childhood to, the kind she hadn’t experienced. She could take care of them, nest in her own home with them. She wouldn’t have to move back and forth from her beach rental to her summer studio rental at the change of seasons. She’d have a home that was hers.

      Then everything would be fine.

      She wanted that life more than anything.

      Hesitantly, she nodded to Natalie. “It’s true, I can’t afford to work for free or to lose my physical therapy job.”

      “You’re not worried about Kyle working with you?” Natalie asked.

      Jessica shook her head. It was sort of a lie. But more than the guilt of having to face Kyle again, and more than the worry that she’d been a source of estrangement between him and Joe, she didn’t want to have to explain that history to Sebastien.

      Sebastien was her safe place—her hope for the future. She didn’t want to ruin that any more than she already had.

      Natalie stood. “Very well. Let me talk with Kyle and see what can be done.”

      * * *

      KYLE PACED THE ROOM. He couldn’t sit still. He had no idea what was going on with Jessica, but he could guess.

      The door opened, and a little girl toddled inside. She had sturdy legs and plump fists. She tilted her head up at Kyle, clearly unafraid of him. Her blond curls bobbed as she spoke. “Hi! Who are you?”

      “Kyle,” he answered.

      “Hi, Kyle.”

      “Oops, sorry about that!” Natalie stepped inside, picked up the girl and kissed her forehead. “Mommy’s working. I told you to stay with Daddy,” she said gently. She and the girl disappeared from sight.

      Finally, she came back into the room. “Again, I’m sorry for the wait. I’ve spoken with Jessica.” She sat at the table and placed her palms flat.

      Kyle tried to read her expression. “What did she say? Is it good or bad?”

      “Frankly, I believe she can be swayed,” Natalie said. “There’s one point she’s uncomfortable with, and if you’re willing, I recommend you negotiate.”

      Wow. That was a shock. He sat, nodding. “Okay, I’m listening.”

      “She’s concerned about losing salary. She’s a physical therapist and is worried about cutting her hours.”

      “Money is her sticking point?” he asked, flabbergasted.

      “It is.”

      “She’s not mad about working with me? She didn’t say anything personal about me?”

      “No, she did not.”

      He shook his head. Maybe things with her weren’t as bad as he thought. Maybe she’d forgiven him for their history. Maybe she hadn’t noticed that he’d assumed she was pregnant when he’d seen her on Valentine’s Day.

      “So...what do you suggest I do now?” he asked the lawyer.

      Natalie was silent for a moment. “As the will document notes, you received a substantial cash inheritance from Joe, as part of the estate. Jessica didn’t receive any such thing. I’m guessing you’d intended that money for living expenses while you get the rink online, but if we can’t get Jessica to work with you to begin with, then it won’t do much good there.”

      Kyle slowly nodded. “Right. I could give her part of that.”

      Natalie looked relieved that he’d suggested it. “I believe an offer to her is the best course. On the other hand, you could offer nothing and take your chances. But honestly, Kyle, she might walk.”

      He didn’t want that. “Make her an offer on my behalf. Go in strong.” A Marine on a mission, he was prepared to do whatever it took to make the rink his place.

      Natalie nodded and stood. She left the room, leaving the door ajar this time.

      While he waited, pacing again, he faintly heard Natalie’s soft voice speaking from a room down the hall. She must have forgotten to shut the door. The words were a low murmur rather than anything clear.

      This was torture. He stuck his head into the hallway, and noticing no one, he headed toward Natalie’s voice. His leg wasn’t cooperating that well—phantom pains, maybe because he’d been sitting for so long. But he was in his old, familiar “walking leg” prosthetic. He didn’t make a sound with it as he passed two offices, a small kitchen and a watercooler.

      He stopped outside the open door of a smaller conference room. Natalie was making his offer, just as they’d discussed.

      Please, Jessica, Kyle thought. Take it.

      “That’s not enough,” a male voice—Sebastien—answered. “She’ll need more money than that.”

      What the hell? Was the boyfriend negotiating for her?

      “How much more?” Natalie asked. “Because Kyle has offered you half of the cash he inherited from Joe. That’s an extremely generous offer on his part, and not what he was required to do.”

      Damn straight. Kyle was debating walking in there and telling them so himself, when suddenly Natalie exited the door, nearly bumping into him.

      “Oh!” Natalie said. “Were you listening?”

      “Yeah,” he murmured. And СКАЧАТЬ